The Social Policy & Parliamentary Unit

New Zealand needs to develop and implement policies to permanently improve its social climate and reduce social need.

To help achieve this outcome The Salvation Army established The Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit.

Get involved

Engage with us to build hopeful communities, a socially-just nation and a peaceful world.

We welcome your comments, including feedback on our reports and ideas for making positive social change. Email: Social Policy & Parliamentary Unit

Recently published

Distant and Disposable - The Poverty of Our Relations (March 2010)

The gains and promises of globalisation have not been distributed evenly or fairly. Distant and Disposable explores how we can (re)invest in reciprocal and redemptive relationships that reconcile divisive distances and revalue our shared humanity.

> view and download Distant and Disposable (PDF, 296KB)

Other reports available

• A Road to Recovery (February 2010) State of The Nation report that tracks social progress across five critical areas: New Zealand’s children, work and incomes, crime and punishment, social hazards, and housing 
  > view and download A Road to Recovery (PDF, 1.70MB)

• Excising Excess (November 2009) Options for using alcohol taxes to reduce New Zealanders' harmful drinking 
  > view and download the Excising Excess paper (PDF, 1.59MB)

• Pacific Trafficking in Persons Forum Report (November 2009) An overview of the Pacific Trafficking in Persons Forum that was held to heighten awareness through the fostering of ongoing networks for knowledge sharing and action, and media engagement 
  > view and download the Pacific Trafficking in Persons Forum Report (PDF, 1.12MB)

• Submission by The Salvation Army to the Law Commission's 'Alcohol in our Lives' Issues Paper (November 2009) The Salvation Army hopes that the Law Commission will recommend appropriate leadership responses that might bring about this cultural change
  > view and download the Submission to the Law Commission 'Alcohol in our Lives' (PDF, 280KB)

• NA TO ROUROU, NA TAKU ROUROU - The Economics of a Shared Future (September 2009) a discussion paper that explores the indebtedness of New Zealand and the possibility of a new economic direction
  > view and download The Economics of a Shared Future (PDF, 828KB)

• The Rainbow of Entitlement (July 2009) a discussion paper exploring consumerism and what we feel is rightly ours
  > view and download The Rainbow of Entitlement (PDF, 208KB)

• Hearing Sa'aq - the practice of hopeful, liberating speech (May 2009) a discussion paper about securing a voice for the voiceless
  > view and download Hearing Sa'aq (PDF, 92KB)

• Economics of Elephants (March 2009) a discussion paper about shifting communities from over-consumption and over-production to mutual responsibility
  > view and download Economics of Elephants (PDF, 184KB)

• Into Troubled Waters (2009) a State of the Nation report
  > view and download Into Troubled Waters - Full Version (PDF, 1.04MB)
  > view and download Into Troubled Waters - Text and Figures only (PDF, 378KB)

• Housing Update (2008) housing update estimates a housing shortfall
  > view and download this report online (PDF, 131KB)

• A New Journey - Te Haerenga Hou (2008) highlights issues and reflections for the 2008 Parliamentary Elections
  > view and download this report online (PDF, 257KB)
  > view and download the summary version (PDF, 16KB)

• "What Does it Profit Us?" (February 2008) a State of the Nation report
  > view and download this report online (PDF, 481KB)

• Rebuilding the Kiwi Dream (August 2007) a proposal for affordable housing in New Zealand
  > view and download this report online (PDF, 2.8MB)

• Forgotten People (August 2006) outlines the circumstances of men who use social services who live outside of a defacto/marriage relationship or family household
  > view and download this report online (PDF, 1.7MB)

• Beyond the Holding Tank (February 2006) highlights pathways to rehabilitative and restorative prison policy
  > view and download this report online (PDF, 1.2MB)
  Study notes have been developed for this report: Study One (PDF, 624KB), Study Two (PDF, 420KB), Study Three (PDF, 416KB), Study Four (PDF, 416KB), Study Five (PDF, 420KB), Study Six (PDF, 456KB), Study Seven (PDF, 428KB)

• A Home I Could Own (September 2005) highlights that the majority of low income families - involved in the survey - aspire to own their own homes
  > view and download this report online (PDF, 867KB)

• From Housing to Homes (February 2005) identified strategies to assist low and modest income New Zealand households into homeownership
  > view and download this report online (PDF, 841KB)

• A New Zealand that Demands Attention (August 2004) identified the social issues experienced by the social services of The Salvation Army
  > view and download this report online (PDF, 450KB)